Biosecurity training
Several self-contained courses in biosecurity are offered around the Pacific as well as bachelor’s degrees, graduate diplomas and postgraduate degrees.
Australia : Fiji : Hawai'i : New Zealand
Australia
The Plant Biosecurity programme
The postgraduate programme is a joint offering by Charles Darwin, La Trobe, and Murdoch universities together with the University of Queensland and University of Adelaide. Course include Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters in Plant Biosecurity. The programme covers diseases, invertebrate and weed pests of plants their detection and diagnosis and the appropriate biosecurity practices and responses. It also examines the ecology of biosecurity, risk assessment, community engagement and legislation.
Fiji
SPC
SPC runs courses in Biosecurity in conjunction with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Hawai'i
The Hawai'i Ant Lab offers practical clinics in managing little fire ants.
New Zealand
Providers that are accredited by MPI New Zealand are indicated with *.
Asure Quality*
Asure Quality offers accredited person training and certification. Accredited Persons are responsible for checking and managing contamination of incoming sea containers at registered transitional facilities.
Auckland University
Auckland University offers a postgraduate diploma of Science in Biosecurity and Conservation - PGDipSci (Biosecurity) course which comprises training in the ecology and science behind current biosecurity and conservation issues. Students participate in real-life research and management scenarios, and gain the skills to contribute to the fields of biosecurity and conservation.
Biosecurity Training South (BTS)*
Biosecurity Training South offers accredited person and facility operator courses, which outline the importance of biosecurity, container pathways and interventions, necessary documentation and legislation and their enforcement.
Department of Conservation
The New Zealand Department of Conservation offers a free online course in the basics of biosecurity. The course only takes around 15 minutes to complete.
Independent Verification Services (IVS)*
Independent Verification Services accredited persons (APs) are responsible for checking and managing contamination risks associated with imported sea containers and keeping the country free from unwanted pests and diseases. All transitional facilities for sea containers should have access to one or more APs. Having APs helps businesses avoid delays or extra charges when clearing goods.
IVS offers both MPI Approved Transitional Facility Operator (TFO) and Accredited Person (AP) training courses, as well as Biosecurity Awareness Training, for those who assist the Accredited Person to unpack imported containers.
Massey University
Massey University offer an advanced paper that teaches practical biosecurity skills. Students learn quantitative risk assessments and design surveillance systems. The course examines case studies from the plant, animal, and aquatic health sectors and explores the control of invasive species. The course also teaches methods to weight the economic costs of various control options against the benefits associated with them.
New Zealand Biosecurity Institute
The New Zealand Biosecurity Institute runs NETS, an annual education and training seminar held by the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute. Workshops and presentations on a variety of invasive species management topics.
Pacific Biosecurity
Pacific Biosecurity offers training in using the resources in the PIAT for biosecurity and management of invasive ants. This training is based around a series of workshops that can be tailored as needed.
Pacific Invasives Initiative (PII)
PII provide inter-island biosecurity training and have produced the following presentations in previous workshops:
- invasive ants: an introduction for biosecurity (with Pacific Biosecurity)
- introduction to surveillance
- incursion response
University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury offer a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in biosecurity, which explores the exclusion, eradication and effective management of threats to the economy, environment and human health posed by pests and diseases. The course also focuses on effective risk assessment and risk management, which allow emerging risks to be identified and mitigated before they can harm the ecosystem, economy and health.